HUNDREDS of people attended a candlelit vigil in memory of the six young students who lost their lives in the Berkeley tragedy took place in Galway tonight.

The event to commemorate the young lives lost took place at Eyre Square in the city at 9pm.

A framed image of the six victims stating simply their names and ages sat above a wreath surrounded by candles. Several hundred people gathered in the park each with a single candle which they added on by one to a growing tribute and signing a book of condolence.

A number of musicians performed during the silent commemoration as those gathered lit candles and stood in silence remembering the six students.

Both the city and county mayors Frank Fahy and Peter Roche attended the event and both spoke briefly.

City mayor Frank Fahy called out the names of each of the victims before holding a minutes silence in their honour.

The poem Beannacht by John O'Donoghue was read: "On the day when the weight deadens on your shoulders and you stumble, May the clay dance to balance you."

Organiser of the event Audrey Staunton said she was overwhelmed by the numbers who had attended.

"I felt it was important that we remembered these Irish students and grieve for them here. We had 500 people say they would attend on facebook and it looks like they have all come out. We had candles for them but many brought their own. It has really touched people," she added.

The vigil took place at the same time as a similar event was held in Berkeley.